Machine for h ulling



5 She'ets-Sheet 1.

E.O.BN.GELBBRG. MAGHINE FOB. HULLING, CLEANING, AND POLISHING RICE.

No. 424,602. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

(No Model.)

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INVENTOR WITNESSES (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. 0. ENGELBBRG. MAGHINE FOR HULLING, CLEANING, AND POLISHING RICE.

No. 424,602. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

INVENTOR WITNESSES Mwr kg. J) A \SWW? N. PETERS. Plwlu-Llllwgmphor. wmhm mn. ac.

(N0 Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. O. ENGELBERG. MACHINE FOR HULLING, CLEANING, AND POLISHING RICE.

No. 424,602. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. G. ENGELBERG. MACHINE FOR HULLING, CLEANING, AND POLISHING RICE.

No. 424,602. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

WITNESSES [NVENTOH 15, 621 771 961567 N ETERS. Phololjthognphcn Walhi n nnnn S a 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No ModeL) E. O. ENGELBERG. MACHINE POP. HULLING. CLEANING, AND POLISHING RIGE.

Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVARISTO CONRADO ENGELBERG, OF PIRAOICABA, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL, ASSIGNOR TO THE ENGELBERG HULLER COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE,

NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR HULLING,CLEANING,AND POLISHING RICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,602, dated April 1, 1890.

Application filed December 27, 1888. Serial No. 294,747. (No model.)

To all w/wm it" may concern:

Be it known that I, EVARISTO GONRADO ENGELBERG, a subject of the Emperor of Brazil, and a resident of Piracicaba, in the Province of Sao Paulo, Brazil, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Hulling Rice, of which the following is a specification.

Letters Patent of the United States No. 341,324, granted me May 4, 1886, for rice-hulling machines, show a hulling-cylinder having longitudinal ribs arranged diagonally on its surface, which co-operate with an adjustable abradin g-stone and a perforated plate, through which the disconnected hulls are discharged. My Patent No. 383,285 shows a similar machine, except that the ribs 011 the hulling-cylinder run straight across the cylinder for a part of their length, but are inclined at the feed end. Metallic abrading-surfaces are used, and the delivery-opening for the grain is provided with an adjustable door or slide to regulate the discharge.

My present invention relates to improvements on that class of rice-hulling machines shown in my above-named patents; and it consists in the improved combinations and organizations of instrumentalities hereinafter described, and designated in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus with parts of the casing broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section throughout the apparatus on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 of the hulling apparatus. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the hulling apparatus with the cover removed. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the developed surface of the hulling-cylinder. Fig. 0 is an end view of the hulling-cylinder. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is a detailed view showing in plan and in cross-section the formation of the perforated plate used below the hulling-cylinder and around the polisher. Fig. 9 represents, on an enlarged scale, heaters or whippcrs used in the polishing apparatus, showing particularly 110w these heaters may be cut from the material without waste. Fig. 10 is a detailed view showing the arrangement of the perforations or slots in the plate below the hulling-cylinder and around the polisher in relation to the axis of the hulling-cylinder or polisher. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal axial section of the huller on the line 11 11 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 12 is a detail view in perspective of the indicator-plate.

That part of the apparatus nearest the spectator in Fig. 1 I call the front of the machine, and the opposite side the back. The end on which the hopper is shown I call the feed end, and the opposite the discharge end, of the machine.

The casing is preferably made in sections Aand H, divided 011 a line coincident with the axis of the hulling-cylinder and inclined downward from rear to front at an angle to the horizon of, say,forty-five degrees, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The main body or lower section A of the casing is preferably made in a single piece and of cast metal, 011 each side of which are laterally-projecting lugs B, in which are formed the lower parts of the bearings of the shaft of the hullingcylinder. Downwardly-proj ecting flanges a at each end of a longitudinal opening A in this lower section are enlarged at their lower ends and provided with laterally-projecting flanges a to support the ends of the perforated plate or screen C below the hulling-cylinder D. The front and rear portions A and A 01 the lower section are formed with downwardly-projecting flanges a to which the longitudinal edges of the perforated plate or screen 0 are secured. Separate side pieces E are secured to the lower section A by bolts Z), extending through the flanges a, as shown in Fig. 3. The tops of the side pieces are inclined, as shown, from the front edges upwardly, and 011 these inclined upper edges rest the laterallyprojecting bearing-lugs B. The lower front portion of the casing is closed and at the upper end is provided with lugs 0 near each end, through which project the adj listing-screws F. The upper part of the bottom of the casing is recessed to receive a metallic hulling-plate G, which. acts in conjunction with the hullingrice and separated therefrom.

readily passes. through the slots, which are cylinder, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Flanges d are formed on the bottoms of the side pieces E, through which pass bolts 9, for securing the machine to the box or casing Hf of the polisher.

The front and rear ends of the casing are ,shown as braced by a rib Z), passing under the screen, but separated therefrom by an intervening space so as not to obstruct this part of the screen. The rib Z) is preferably made in one piece with the other parts of the casing, and may be formed with a lug b to aid in supporting the screen 0. The back of the lower section A is closed by a back plate or door J, Fig. 2, which may be readily re-' moved when desired. 'By this means the under side of the screen may be readily reached for the purpose of cleaning it with a wire brush or other cleaning implement.

The plate is provided with perforations, preferably formed as shown in Figs. 8 and 10. These perforations c are made in the form of oblong slots gradually tapering or flaring from the inside of the plate outwardly. The slots run transverse to the length of the casing and are arranged in parallel rows, each row overlapping and projecting between the slots of each adjacent row. (See Fig. 10.). By forming the slots in this way and by this arrangement the hulls, cuticle, flaky matter, and other impurities are effectively disconnected from the grains of This matter through them.

The precise arrangement and formation of the slots is of great importance in my improved machine. simple perforations would not do. the work so effectively.

The hulling-cylinder D is mounted on a shaft K, which has its bearings in the lugsB of the lower section of the casing A. These bearings are closed by caps 13, provided with oil-cups B On one end of the shaft Kis adriving-pulley W and on the opposite end a pulley N, which. is connected with the driving-pulley W of the polisher. Collars K are interposed between the pulleys WV and W and the bearings Band B of the shaft K to prevent the shaft moving longitudinally. By this arrangement the hulling-cylinder is maintained in a uniform position relatively to the sides of the casing.

The direction of revolution of the shafts, pulleys, &e., is indicated by the arrows.

It will be observed that the cylinder is much keep. the rice from grinding in this space.

Ribs on the cylinder co-operate with the hulling-plate to remove the hulls. The arrangement of these ribs is of the utmost importance to insure the effective working of the ma-' chine. I obtain the best results by arranging the ribs as shown in Fig. 5. The cylinder is therein represented as provided with four central ribs 1 2 3 4, arranged at equal distances apart and parallel with the axis of the cylinder. The discharge ends of the ribs are. all in line with each other. The ribs 1 and 3 are equal in length, and the ribs 2 and 4 are also equal in length to each other, but shorter than the ribs 1 and 3. Four short ribs 5 6 7 8 project inwardly from the discharge end of the cylinder at an angle of about forty-five degrees with its axis and enter between the ribs 1 2 3 4, their inner ends terminating close to, but before reaching, the ribs 1 2 3 4, so as to leave ways or passages 9 10 11 12. Passages 00 are also left between the short ribs and the long ribs.

On the feed end of the cylinder two ribs only, 13 and 14, are used; but they are somewhat longer than the ribs 5 6 7 8. They project from the edge of the cylinder at an angle of about forty-five degrees to its axis, their inner ends terminating before reaching the ends of the'ribs 2 and 4., so as to leave ways or passages 15 and 16. There are also passages g between the ribs 13 and 1 and 14 and 3. All the ribs are preferably of the same width and thickness, the scale and relative proportion being accurately shown in the drawings. The ribs are secured to the cylinder in any desired way, preferably by ordinary screws, as indicated. The height of the ribs above the surface of the cylinder is preferably one-third of that of the space between vthe cylinder and casing.

The lower portion of the cylinder (shown in Fig. 5) is the feed end. As the rice enters the apparatus, it is taken hold of by the inclined ribs 13 and 14 and started through the machine in a direction toward the delivery end of the apparatus, the cylinder revolving as indicated by the arrows. turned over and over by the longitudinal ribs 1 2 3 4, and presented continuously to the hulling-plate G, and gradually carried to the discharge end, where it is taken up by the .short inclined ribs 5 6 7 8 and rapidly fed The ways or passages 31 ing-edge is rounded or curved to present a convex edge to the ribs. It will be observed that the plate is somewhat longer than the hulling-cylinder. The headed ends of adj usting-screws F fitinto sockets or recesses g in the plate. The heads of the screws are rounded, and the narrow necks g are embraced by the outer edges of the curved re- The rice is ICC) cesses. flared, as shown in Fig. 4, so that one side of the plate may be adjusted more than the other, in order to give it the proper inclination without changing any of the parts. It is desirable that the distance between the edge of the plate and the surface of the hulling-cylinder at the feed end of the apparatus should be greater than at the delivery end, as the unhulled rice requires more space at this point. As the rice approaches the delivery end of the apparatus, it is important that the plate and the hulling-cylinder should come closer together, because the grains of rice become smaller as they near the delivery end and require closer work.

The top or cover of the apparatus may be of any suitable kind adapted to neatly inclose the hulling-cylinder. m of the cover is recessed internally to accommodate the hulling-cylinder, and the front and rear portions m m rest upon the front and rear portions A A of the lower section or body portion A. The under side of the part m is formed to closely fit the plate G and the adj Listing-screws F, and yet permit of their ready adjustment.

The front portion of the lower section A is recessed at f to accommodate the adjustingscrews. To each of the adj Listing-screws at its outer end is secured a plate F, which extends up and over the front portion of the cover H and at its front end under a guidestrap f. These plates are marked with a scale to indicate clearly the exact position of the plate within the casing. Any movement of the screws, which correspondingly moves the hulling-plate, will coincidently move the plate F, so that the exact position of either end of the plate relatively to the hulling-cylinder is indicated. The scale may be made to show in inches and fractions of an inch the exact distance of the hulling-plate from the hulling-cylinder.

The hopper N is connected to the feedopening it in any suitable way over the end of the hulling-cylinder A. A slide N regulates the size of the opening. The dischargeopening 0 is formed in the upper part of the cover H at the opposite end of the apparatus. This opening is provided with an adjustable slide 0, so that the size of the opening may be varied to regulate the discharge of the rice and the pressure within the casing. Guardplates 0 on each side of the discharge-opening 0 and extending upwardly therefrom prevent the rice from being scattered.

An opening 0 is formed in the concave plate or screen 0 at the discharge end of the machine, and is closed by a gate 0, which moves in guides formed in the downwardlyprojecting lugs C of the lower section A of the casing A. Set-screw 0 holds the gate firmly in position. This is an important feature in the practical operation of the machine, because should the driving-belts slip or any other parts of the driving apparatus give way The recesses from these points are The central part the machine would, but for this opening, become clogged or choked, and in restarting the machine the rice would be ground and broken.

In operating my machine, should the driving-gear slip or give away before again starting, the feed of rice is shut off by the slide N of the hopper, and the gate C is opened duced is a useful article, and may be used as feed for animals. It is not and should be cared for.

The hulling apparatus is mounted on a box or casing H, which contains the apparatus a waste product,

for cleaning and polishing the rice after it leaves the huller. A box or casing Q is attached to the guard-plates O and a chute Q leads from this casing to an opening Q in the perforated casing R, surrounding the pol isher S. The rice enters the perforated casing R, and, after being treated in the polisher, is carried through a discharge-spout U to suitable receptacles. The dust, meal, and other fine particles whipped out by the polisher and blown through the casing R may be collected with the meal passing down the chute T, or it may be separated therefrom.

The box or casing H is shown in dotted lines as divided, the chute T extending to the bottom of the box, and an openings being provided in the bottom of the box, through which the meal from the huller may be passed to a receptacle below. An opening 8 is also shown, through which the finer meal whipped out by the polisher may be delivered in suitable receptacles below. The polisher is formed of a cylindrical skeleton frame-work V, mounted on a shaft V, having bearings V in the sides of the box. These bearings are preferably formed in plates V removably secured to the box by bolts V. The sides of the skeleton frame are separated from the inner sides of the casing, so that the rice will not be ground or broken between them. I find by experience that if the polisher is not thus arranged the whole eifect of the apparatus is harmed, because a large portion of the rice will be ground or broken.

As shown in the drawings, the frame is composed of eight ribs 11, secured to the sides, and to these ribs are secured bands of leather S, which are cut in the form shown in Fig. 9 to form fingers S which are light and flexible, and which act as whips on the grain as it passes through the cylinder.

As shown in Fig. 9, the strips are cut from sheets of leather without waste of material. They may be secured to the frame in any suitable way, but preferably as shown in the drawings, and as the cylindrical frame revolves the rice is taken up by the fingers and carried along through the apparatus, the dust and IIO fine meal being forced through the perforated casing by the whips and the currents of air induced thereby.

The apparatus thus organized takes the rough rice, removes the hulls, cuticle, and

flaky matter, separates it from the good rice, takes the'good rice and relieves it from any remaining impurities, gives it a fine polish,

and delivers it to separate receptacles ready for use, while the hulls or meal are delivered in convenient condition for sale as feed.

The rice, after it passes through the apparatus, is substantially of one grade, needs no separation, and is perfectly clean.

I have described my improved apparatus as designed for hulling, cleaning, and polishing rice but it is obvious that the machine may be used for cleaning other kinds of grain.

I have used my improved cleaning apparatus for hulling coffee with remarkably good results, it being only necessary to give the hulling-plate a wider range of adjustment, or rather make the distance between the working-edge of the hulling-plate and the surface of the hulling-cylinder somewhat larger, to accommodate the coffee-berries, which are larger than the grains of rice.

Having thus fully described the organization and operation-of my improved rice hulling, cleaning, and polishing apparatus, What I claim therein as of my own invention, and desire-to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is-- 1- The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the hulling-cylinder, the short inclined feed-ribs thereon, and the separate equidistant longitudinal ribs parallel with the axis of the cylinder, with their feed ends lying alternately opposite the ends of the feedribs and between them, leaving spaces between the feed and longitudinal ribs through which the rice may pass.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the hulling-cylinder, its short inclined feed-ribs, the separate equidistant longitudinal parallel central ribs, and the discharge-ribs inclined in a direction reverse to that of the feed-ribs. I

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the hulling-cylinder, its inclined feed-ribs, the separate equidistant longitudinal parallel central ribs of unequal extent at the feed end and terminating alternately opposite to and between the feedribs, and the discharge-ribs projecting between the corresponding ends of the longitudinal ribs.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the casing, the screen in the lower part of the casing, the ribbed hulling-cylinder, and the convex-edged smooth fiat rigid hard-metal hulling-plate co-operating therewith.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the casing, the screen in the lower part of the casing, the ribbed hulling-cylinder, and the hulling-plate, the working-edge of which is inclined toward the cylinder from the feed to' the discharge end to compensate for the gradually-diminishing bulk of the rice as the hulling progresses.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the casing, the feedopening in the top thereof, the hulling-plate, the hulling-cylinder revolving upwardly on the side next the plate to throw the rice upwardly against the plate, and a dischargeopening above the plate. 7

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the casing having a discharge-opening in its top, the hulling-cylinder revolving therein, the inclined ribs on the cylinder beneath the. discharge-opening, the straight parallel ribs extending from the discharge-opening to a feed-opening in the casing, the inclined ribs beneath the feed-opening, and the hulling-plate extending in the casing from one end of the cylinder to the other.

-8.. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the casing havingfeed and discharge openings in its'top, the hullingcylinder, its inclined feed-ribs, oppositely-inclined discharge-ribs which lift the grain from the casing, and the straight parallel ribs on the cylinder between the inclined ribs at each end.

9. The combination, substantially as here- 'inbefore set forth, of the casing, the hullingcylinder, hulling-plate, its adjusting-screws, and the indicator-plates connected therewith to determine the relation of the cylinder and plate without opening the casing.

10. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the casing, the hullingcylinder, its ribs, and the screen having a smooth and even interior surface, and having also rows of straight parallel overlapping slots transverse to the axis of the cylinder and flaring outwardly to facilitate the escape of matter passing through said screen.

11. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the hulling-cylinder, the

lower section of the casing, the screen, theinbefore set forth, of the lower section of the casing, downwardly-pro j ectin g flanges at each side thereof, lateral flanges, the screen secured thereto, and inclined side pieces secured to the downwardly-projecting flanges.

14. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ofthe lower section of the casing having a central longitudinal opening,

chute connecting the opening in the screencasing with the box, a rice-discharge opening in the casing of the huller, the polisher, a chute leading from the rice-discharge opening in the casing to the polisher, and a dischargespout leading from the polisher.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 20 scribed my name.

EVARISTO OONRADO ENGELBERG.

Witnesses:

J osn ANTO. DARRUDA, RODRIGO PINTO ROZADO. 

